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Genetics of human behaviour

Section of Epidemiology and General Practice, Institute of Psychiatry, London SE5 8AF

Ascribing human behaviour to the influence of genetic factors is a reductionist idea that inappropriately applies the explanations of physical science to the human social world. The result is that the designation of some behaviour as deviant is disguised as objective science. The high profile of genetic research means that we must be alert to the potential social consequences of this type of reasoning.